Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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As this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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1186. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if transport, such as taxis, will be provided for service users attending specialist community-based disability services when no other public transport is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16467/23]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The HSE provides specialist disability services, including Day Services and Rehabilitative Training, to people with disabilities who require such services, and people with intellectual disabilities would form the majority of service users who are supported by these services. While day service funding does not include transport, some transport supports are provided by the HSE or funded agencies on a discretionary basis, and a variety of transport solutions are pursued in different CHO areas. These include travel training to enable public transport to be used, where appropriate, local transport such as Local Link, private bus transport and taxis, and some service providers provide transport where capacity exists.

In general, day service users are in receipt of disability allowance and are automatically entitled to the Free Travel Pass.

Under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, the Department of Transport has responsibility for the continued development of accessibility and availability of accessible public transport. To develop proposals for better coordination of transport and mobility supports for people with disabilities, a Transport Working Group was established, co-ordinated by my Department and chaired by my colleague Minister Rabbitte.

The outcomes of the work of the Group will provide a valuable evidence base for future policy development, including the successor strategy to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy. The report was published last month and is available on the DCEDIY website.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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1187. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will set the inspection protocols and procedures he has in respect of a centre (details supplied); if his officials will inspect the centre in conjunction with his contracted inspector; if he took cognisance of standards and or criteria as set out in the EU (recast) Reception Conditions Directive; and if he will provide a schedule indicating the additional GP service providers and school places he has secured to service the needs of persons. [16495/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Ireland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, my Department has worked to accommodate an unprecedented volume of persons seeking refuge following the invasion of Ukraine, with over 79,000 people arriving in Ireland, including 58,000 who have sought accommodation from this Department.

Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, my Department has contracted in excess of 47,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 750 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings. In addition, more than 7,000 beneficiaries have also been accommodated in pledged accommodation properties.

The priority is to place people fleeing the war in safe and secure accommodation.

I am advised by my officials that the accommodation referred to by the Deputy has been prepared on foot of the Guidelines for Temporary Accommodation in Existing Buildings for those fleeing the war in Ukraine, produced by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. As part of the contract with the accommodation provider, my Department retains the right to inspect the premises at its discretion, either directly or via a service provider contracted to do so. Inspections will be actioned periodically or on foot of any particular issue arising.

Matters relating to GP services and schools are appropriate to the Department of Health and Department of Education respectively who are also assisting those fleeing the war in Ukraine as part of the whole of Government response.